- Treating your deck

Dear Shell,

I am building a deck on the north facing wall of my house. The deck surface will be about 30 inches above the ground. I seem to remember that you have talked in the past about a technique to eliminate the problem of constant peeling once you stain it - is there such a technique? Is some of the problem caused by moisture coming out of the ground and through the wood from underneath? I am considering two options regarding surface finish. One is Thompson’s Water Seal and the other is a Solid or semi transparent stain on either pine or cedar. What are your thoughts?